By: Rita Metrani, Data Analyst, Aissel Solutions
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common and specific microvascular complication of diabetes and one of the leading global causes of preventable blindness. The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR) found 3.6% of type 1 diabetes patients and 1.6% of type 2 diabetes patients were legally blind. Diabetic retinopathy is rare among children at age 10 and younger. About 10% of teens with diabetes at ages 15 to 19 have diabetic retinopathy. The proportion rises from 10% to 40% between ages 20 and 29. By age 30, about 60% of people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy, and by age 45 the figure rises to 70%.